Keep on doing it!

Colossians 4: 2-6

It’s Saturday, September 30^th and the Ryder Cup is in full swing so I`ll keep this brief!

There’s a phrase often used in the business world when a process has proved successful. Rinse and repeat. Do the same thing again because it works. I know, for instance, in our business, that if we do the research, identify the target client, and write to them, we will get a good response rate. If we continue to do the same thing over and over again, we will get the results we need.

Whilst glued to the television coverage of the Ryder Cup I was struck by a comment made by one of the European Team, Justin Rose. Justin is one of the very best golfers in the world reaching the number one spot in 2018. On the first day of this year’s tournament in Rome he hit one particular shot onto the eighteenth green that enabled him to tie the match and gave his team an important half-point in the tournament. Afterward, he commented that he had told himself to think he was on the practice ground and not surrounded by the pressure of the world`s best-known cross-Atlantic golf tournament. “Just trust your routine,” he told himself as he hit the ball to within a few feet of the hole.

Routine can be both good and bad. I tend to be a workaholic and as admirable as hard work is I recognise it’s not good for it to be constant and without respite. Similarly, we can often do other things slavishly and out of pure habit. We might even go to church for forty years and sit in the same seat out of habit.

My first Bible teacher and Christian mentor told me something I’ve never forgotten. “Create good habits,” he said. And so, one habit I began nearly thirty years ago was to have an early morning time of Bible reading and prayer. I get up early so that I can have an hour or more alone in the stillness of dawn and before my wife rises. I have occasionally questioned whether it is something done religiously or out of love and as part of a loving two-way relationship. Fortunately, I know that it’s something I want to do because I want to hear my Heavenly Father speak to me through His word.

Colossians 4 instructs us to “be persistent in prayer” because God wants us to go to Him constantly with our needs and requests. Similarly, regular reading of God’s word helps us to know Him better and to understand His will for our lives; His good, perfect, and pleasing will.

What more could you possibly need in your life?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to create good habits that reveal your perfect will for each of our lives so that we can honour and glorify you.

Neil Bromage, 01/10/2023

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and when

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10:30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in the main foyer.

Our service

The main service begins at 10.30am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our worship leader. We typically have two songs followed by a children's slot. The children and youth will then normally go off to their respective groups. If you have children you will be able to spot and speak to one of the leaders - they will be wearing a bright yellow t-shirt! There will usually be a time of prayer and communion. We normally have another time of sung worship followed by a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

When our team is available we serve tea, coffee and biscuits from 12pm, after the service. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

sunday services

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids/teens:

Creche - from approx. 6 months to 5 years (decided on a child by child basis)
Limitless Kids (4/5 - 11/12 years)
Limitless Youth (school years 7-11)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for two worship songs and the “Kids slot” and then go to creche or Limitless Kids. Limitless Youth may go out at the same time as the children but sometimes stay in the service to take communion before going to their class. Children can be picked up by parents after the service ends (but not before 12pm).

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a couple of groups that meet every week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to Join a team.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries and regularly support various missionaries who are part of the Elim Missions work:

Toddlers & Co weekly group
Foodbag provision
Open Doors Team
Church in the Cafe
Youth Community Outreach

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at the church.

Best Wishes
The Gatehouse Church Team

About us

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you. (*Mandatory Fields)

*Name:

Telephone:

*Email Address:
*Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.